Kilimanjaro's snow-capped summit at night above a glowing camp

Tell us four things about the climb you're dreaming of — your days, your altitude history, what you care about, and when you're going — and we'll point you at the route that fits, and say plainly which ones don't.

Question 1 of 4

How many days can you spend on the mountain?

Not counting travel or a rest day either side.

Which Kilimanjaro route should you climb?

On Kilimanjaro the number that predicts whether you reach Uhuru Peak is not your fitness and not the trail's difficulty — it is how many nights you sleep above 3,800m before summit night. Routes that give your body more of those nights hand you better odds, and the difference between the best and worst profiles on the mountain is large. Lemosho and the Northern Circuit sleep high the longest; Marangu and Umbwe the least. Add a day wherever you can afford one: the same trail walked over eight days is a materially different climb from the same trail over six. Once the route is settled, who you climb with matters more than which trail you walk, because operator staffing, food and turnaround discipline decide what happens at 5,000m at two in the morning.

Every Kilimanjaro route on its recommended itinerary. Nights above 3,800m is derived from published camp altitudes, not claimed by an operator.
RouteDaysDistanceNights above 3,800mSleepingPark fees
Northern Circuit998 km6Tents$1251
Lemosho Route870 km4Tents$1109
Machame Route762 km4Tents$956
Shira RouteCurrently not open — see the route page.856 km4Tents$1097
Rongai Route773 km3Tents$968
Umbwe Route753 km3Tents$956
Western BreachCurrently not open — see the route page.82 km2Tents$1109
Marangu Route672 km1Huts$873

Common questions

Which Kilimanjaro route has the highest success rate?
Routes that sleep high for longest do best, and on that measure Northern Circuit leads with 6 nights above 3,800m on its 9-day itinerary. Published success rates vary widely between operators because they are self-reported and rarely define what counts as a summit, so treat the acclimatisation profile as the honest proxy.
What is the easiest route up Kilimanjaro?
Marangu Route is the least physically demanding and the only route with huts, beds and a dining hall every night, which is why it is often called the easiest. It also has one of the weakest acclimatisation profiles on the mountain, so easy walking and good odds are not the same thing.
How many days do you need to climb Kilimanjaro?
Seven to nine days on the mountain. Five and six-day itineraries exist and are sold cheaply, but they compress acclimatisation to the point where altitude, not fitness, decides the outcome. If your budget allows one extra day, spend it here rather than on gear.
What is the cheapest Kilimanjaro route?
Park fees are the fixed part of the bill and they scale with nights on the mountain: Marangu Route is lowest at $873 per person on its recommended itinerary. The rest of a quote is crew wages, food and transport, and a quote far below the arithmetic is usually being paid for by someone carrying your bag.
Which Kilimanjaro route is the quietest?
Northern Circuit sees the least traffic of any route in peak season. Solitude usually costs either days or comfort, so check the route page before choosing on quiet alone.
Do you need climbing experience to summit Kilimanjaro?
No. Every standard route is a walk, with no ropes, technical climbing or fixed gear. What it demands is the ability to walk six to eight hours a day for a week at altitude, and a body given enough time to adapt.

Next: every route compared side by side, the best month to climb, what a climb should honestly cost, and a free summit certificate when you get back.